The annual direct service requirement for students is incremental. As students grow in their understanding of service and their gifts and talents, they are required to do more hours. Meeting quarterly benchmarks is necessary to remain in good standing and eligible for extracurricular activities.   Service hours above the minimum requirement do not continue to the next academic year. Students who complete 100 or more hours by the Monday following Easter Break will receive a Christian Service Certificate.

The process of locating, attending, and tracking one’s service record is an empowering life skill that benefits students in college and beyond. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for arranging their service opportunities. To aid Troubies, the Campus Ministry department offers the following support:

• MobileServe orientation for Freshmen and transfer student
• Frequent emails notifying students about upcoming opportunities
• Fall Service Fair so that students can make in-person contact with local non-profit volunteer coordinators
• Access to a master list of pre-approved, non-profit organizations
• Appointments for students to meet with the Campus Minister for Christian Service to find appropriate opportunities

See Christian Service FAQs for information on direct service expectations

THE BASIC PROCESS

Students claim their MobileServe Account to track and log service hours. Campus Ministry sends the “claim your account” email out during the summer of a student’s first year of attendance. Late start or mid-year transfers are sent a copy of this message upon arrival; we modify students’ hour requirements according to their start date.

Select an eligible 501(c)3 organization from the pre-approved agency list or the resources available in the MobileServe app. If neither of those two options interests a student, they may seek pre-approval for another organization using the Special Permission Request Form.

Activities toward the annual requirement Christian Service get recorded in MobileServe. For time logs to be accepted, volunteer details and a valid verification form are required. Verification options are:

• Supervisor Signature and location verification: Enter Supervisor name AND Supervisor signature AND Geo-verification (“Attach My Location”)
• Email verification: Enter the supervisor’s name and email address within MobileServe. Ask the supervisor if they are willing to follow up on the email.
• Photos and location verification: Students upload a picture of themselves performing the service described in the “Tell Your Story” section AND Geo-verification (“Attach My Location”)

MINIMUM SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

The direct service requirement increases each year of attendance. Meeting quarterly benchmarks is required to remain in good standing and eligible for extracurricular activities. Students may begin earning service credit as early as June 1st of an upcoming academic year. Students can be ahead of the minimum requirements at each of the checkpoints.

See below for grade-specific requirements.

Freshmen: 10 or more total hours at two or more non-profit organizations

• End of Quarter 1: 3+ hours
• End of Term 1: 6+ hours
• End of Quarter 3: 10+ hours

Sophomore: 15 or more total hours at two or more non-profit organizations

• End of Quarter 1: 5+ hours
• End of Term 1: 10+ hours
• End of Quarter 3: 15+ hours

Junior: 20 or more total hours at no more than two non-profit organizations

• End of Quarter 1: 7+ hours
• End of Term 1: 14+ hours
• End of Quarter 3: 20+ hours

Senior: 30 or more total hours at no more than two non-profit organizations

• End of Quarter 1: 10+ hours
• End of Term 1: 20+ hours
• End of Quarter 3: 30+ hours

NON-CREDIT SERVICE

• ​Service through or with a FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS OR FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON
• Political activities (campaigns for candidates or policies)
• Service during fundraising dinners/crab feeds, golf tournaments, or auctions.